Welcome to the Regional Arts NSW e-Bulletin for February 26 2002.

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What's new at Regional Arts NSW

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE CRISIS - UPDATE
On Friday 22 March, Regional Arts NSW convened a meeting with other Sydney based arts organisations involved in delivering regional programs to discuss the public liability crisis and the impact it is having on the arts across the State. Represented at the meeting were the National Association for the Visual Arts, CCD NSW, NSW Festivals and Events Association, Arts on Tour, Museums and Galleries Foundation, Music NSW (and specifically their Indent Youth Music program) and Regional Arts NSW. Other organisations who were unable to attend but expressed interest in the outcomes were the NSW Film and Television Office, Ausdance, Arts Training NSW, the State Chamber of Commerce and the Local Government and Shires Association.

Discussion focussed on:
* The current public liability insurance coverage each organisation has in place.
* The impact that current public liability issues are having on the constituents of each organisation.
* The perceived gaps in public liability insurance provision.
* The public liability insurance services or models each organisation is currently exploring
* The actions and outcomes we would all like to see set in place.

Following a valuable exchange of ideas, each organisation has agreed to write a brief paper on their specific concerns and recommendations, locating the arts industry within the context of the insurance debate. The reports will be combined to form a position paper which will be forwarded to both State and Federal Governments with recommendations for further action.

In the meantime, Regional Arts NSW will advise all affiliate and associate groups as soon as public liability insurance cover becomes available, and the terms under which it is being offered. Groups who require immediate or interim public liability cover are being encouraged to pursue their own avenues of enquiry. The Regional Arts NSW website will also be updated as developments unfold.

GROUNDSWELL 2002 RAA NATIONAL CONFERENCE - SPEAKERS / THEMES ANNOUNCED
Regional Arts NSW has announced keynote speakers and core themes for Groundswell, the 2002 RAA National Conference at Albury Wodonga, 10-13 October.

* Helen Gould founded the UK's Creative Exchange in 1997/8 in response to the lack of awareness and understanding of the social role of the arts internationally. She has steered its growth from concept to an internationally recognised organisation and now serves on the culture committee of UK UNESCO and has authored research reports for the British Council, World Bank and Comedia.

* Carol Geddes is a Teslin Tlingit (first nation) Canadian filmmaker whose first major film Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief won a Silver Award for Educational Documentary in San Francisco. Carol has produced 25 documentaries highlighting the stories and struggles of Aboriginal life in the Yukon and other parts of Canada and she has won numerous national and international awards. Carol has served as a board member for the Canada Council for the Arts, working with Aboriginal artists to successfully establish Aboriginal programs with the Canada Council. Currently she is an instructor for the Aboriginal Screenwriters Writing for Series Television workshop at The Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada.

From Australia we have confirmed
* Lyndon Terracini, one of Australia's finest and internationally acclaimed performers of contemporary opera and music theatre, founder of the Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) and Artistic Director of the 2001 Queensland Biennial Festival of Music.
* renowned festival director Robyn Archer
* Chair of the Australia Council for the Arts, Dr Terry Cutler and
* Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board, Cathy Craigie.

For more information go to www.regionalartsnsw.com.au/news/raa_conf_groundswell_26-2-02.html. To register to be the first to receive the brochure and secure a place at Groundswell sent your details to groundswell@regionalartsnsw.com.au or contact Regional Arts NSW Tel 02 9247 8577 Fax 02 9247 7829.

COUNTRY ARTS SUPPORT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON
The deadline for applications under the RANSW Country Arts Support Program (CASP) is March 15. In a special one-off joint initiative between Regional Arts NSW and the 2002 Year of the Outback working committee, an additional $50,000 has been made available under the program for projects in designated areas in the western regions of New South Wales. Read all about it under Grants on the Regional Arts NSW website at www.regionalartsnsw.com.au or contact your local RADO. Guidelines and application forms are also available from our website.

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Opportunities

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARDS MEMBERS - AUSTRALIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
The Australia Council is seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to be considered for nomination as Board members or as specialist peer advisors. The Council recommends nominations for Board membership to the Federal Minister for the Arts who makes the appointments. The majority of Board members are people who practise the arts or are otherwise associated with the arts. In addition, the Council and its Board select peers with expertise in arts practice and arts management to assist in assessment and the development of policies. Nominations are welcome from people over 18 years of age. Nomination forms are available from the website http://www.ozco.gov.au/peers or Tel 02 9215 9121 Toll free 1800 226 912.

BRASS QUINTET AVAILABLE IN FAR WEST
As part of the Musica Viva Australia program, Shrewd Brass - a vibrant brass quintet performing classical and romantic quintets as well as jazz, tango and blues will be in the Far West region in June/July. $1,980 (inc GST) for full program or $962.50 for one hour family concert. Opportunities to present other ensembles and groups also possible later in the year. Call Musica Viva Tel 02 8394 6666 www.musicaviva.com.au

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Grants

PERFORMING ARTS TOURING FUND
The NSW Ministry for the Arts invites applications for grants of up to $25,000 under its Performing Arts Touring Program. Grants are to be used to cover net touring costs associated with performing arts tours visiting regional centres in New South Wales; such as fares, freight, accommodation and living expenses for touring artists. Tours must commence after 30 April 2002, and preference will be directed to itineraries including at least two venues.
Contact NSW Ministry for the Arts, Tel 02 9228 5533 / 1800 358 594 Email ministry@arts.nsw.gov.au Website www.arts.nsw.gov.au
Closing 28 February

TELSTRA ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STAIT ISLANDER ART AWARD
19th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award offers a first prize of $40,000 plus $16,000 worth of other prizes. Entries are invited from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. For pre-selection forms and information contact the NATSIAA Co-ordinator, MAGNT, GPO Box 4646 Darwin NT 0801 Tel 08 8999 8228 Fax 08 8999 8289 Website http://www.galley.discoverymedia.com.au/magnt.index.htm Email natsiaa@nt.gov.au
Closing April 15

NSW HERITAGE INCENTIVES - 2002-2004 PROGRAM
A range of categories, plus particular regional, rural and Aboriginal priority areas. For more information go to www.heritage.nsw.gov.au or Tel 9635 6155.
Closing March 24

NETWORKING THE NATION - REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
Commonwealth grants program providing funding to not-for-profit organisations to support activities and projects designed to address a range of telecommunications needs in regional, rural and remote Australia. The objective is to assist the economic and social development of regional, rural and remote Australia by funding projects which:
* enhance telecommunications infrastructure and services in regional, rural and remote areas;
* increase access to, and promote use of, services available through telecommunications networks in regional, rural and remote areas; or
* reduce disparities in access to such services and facilities between Australians in regional, rural or remote areas and those in urban areas.
Information and grant application forms are available from http://www.dcita.gov.au/ or Tel 1800 674 058 (toll free) Email: rtif.mail@dcita.gov.au.
Closing 6 March 2002

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL BOARDS - APPROACHING DEADLINES
Grant applications are invited now from the following Boards:
* Literature
Closing 15 March
* Community Cultural Development
Closing 1 April
* Visual Arts/Craft
Closing 1 April
The Australia Council's 2002 Support for the Arts Handbook, a schedule of 2002 closing dates and application forms are available at http://www.ozco.gov.au or Tel 02 9215 9000 Toll-free 1800 226 912 Email mail@ozco.gov.au.

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Awards

THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC CENTRE AWARDS 2002 - NEW REGIONAL AWARD
The Australian Music Centre Awards are specifically for the contemporary classical, or new, music scene in Australia. In an environment which glosses over the challenge and hard work of a life at the cutting edge, this is your opportunity to win recognition for those unsung heroes. Nominations come from the community of composers, performers, teachers, students and music lovers who make up the membership of the Centre.
In 2002 a new award will be added to the existing six categories:
* Most Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Australian Music in a Regional Area
To honour organisations or individuals who have traditionally lacked the resources to operate on the same scale as their metropolitan colleagues. A chance to recognise musicians and administrators working with tiny budgets and huge commitment, who often miss out on the limelight. The award is made for activities which took place in 2001.
For details of rules and nomination requirements, please request an information pack from the Australian Music Centre Tel 02 9247 4677 Toll-free 1800 351 834 Email awards@amcoz.com.au Website www.amcoz.com.au/cent-award.htm.
Closing 22 April 2002 - instant nominations
Closing 20 May 2002 - full nominations

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Conferences + Talks

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN AND EARTH CONFERENCE
3-7 April, 2002
Darug and Gundungurra Country, Karuna Conference Centre, Katoomba
This is a national gathering of women environmentalists that aims to bring together women who are active for change in their communities. Held over 5 days the conference will wholistically explore women's work for political and social change. At the conference there will be grass roots activists, indigenous land and sea rights activists, campaigners in NGO's, women raising children, environmental educators, students, activists, musicians and community development workers.
Special guests of the conference are:
* Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta -Senior Aboriginal women from Cooper Pedy and anti-nuclear campaigners
* Tatyana Mamonova - Russian founder of the international Woman and Earth eco-network and conferences.
Free Access and support tickets - Darug and Gundungurra women and all indigenous elders will have free access to the conference. A limited number of free support tickets are available for women who do not have enough money to pay for the registration. Information is available on the web site and applications must be received by 15 March 2002.
Contact Women and Earth Conference, Fax 02 4759 3299, Website http://www.womenandearth.org E-mail: conference@womenandearth.org.

THE WORLD MAY BE FANTASTIC, BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 2002 - REGIONAL TALKS
Craig Judd, Education + Public Programs Manager, Lecturer, Sydney College of the Arts, will give a series of talks about the themes, artists and curators associated with the Biennale of Sydney 2002 (The World May Be) Fantastic, which explores the intersections of fantasy and reality. The Biennale of Sydney takes place in Sydney's leading museums and galleries as well as public programs around the harbour foreshore and it is accompanied by a dynamic program of performances, screenings, artists' talks and webcasts. The dates for the NSW regional talks are:
March 13 - Tamworth Regional Art Gallery
March 22 - Wagga Wagga Regional Art gallery (3 Lectures)
April 7 - Hazelhurst Regional Gallery
April 11 - Wollongong University
April 30 - Bathurst Regional Art Gallery
May 2 - Lismore Regional Art Gallery
May 10 - Albury Regional Art Gallery
May 21 - Orange Regional Art Gallery
June 3 - Dubbo Regional Gallery
June 5 - Newcastle Regional Art Gallery
For more information, please contact the galleries directly.

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Resources / Online

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - 8 MARCH 2001
International Women's Day is celebrated around the world on 8 March each year. A web-based register of events being held in Australia this year is being generated by the Australia Women's Intra Network. To register the event in your area or to look up what events are happening go to http://www.isis.aust.com/iwd/events.htm

WHAT DO PAT, CLARE AND KAROLEE HAVE IN COMMON?
March 2002 is Australia Women's History Month
What do these people have in common? Pat Turner, Clare Martin, Karolee Wolcott, Vicki Grieves, Anne Summers, Lulu Respall-Turner, Sue Vardon, Chris McDiven, Eva Cox, Helen Ross, Sue Vardon, Rachel Ingwersen, Kate Lundy, Susan Magarey.
Yes, they are all women - but what else do they have in common, and where could you meet them for a friendly chat?
Australian Women's History Month, 2002 is an opportunity to learn about women who have contributed to the development of society and to lay down information on history as it is being created. The women listed above and more, will be leading women's history discussions online during March.
The online program begins on 3 March and topics will include
* Indigenous women's history
* Women on the land
* Women as migrants
* Women gaining and using the right to vote
* Women asserting reproductive rights
* Writing women into history
Website http://www.trivium.net/womenshistorymonth For more info contact The National Foundation for Australian Women Tel 02 6287 4303 Email nfaw@nfaw.org Website http://www.nfaw.org/

The above two articles are from the THROUGH OUR EYES BULLETIN 24: 21 February 2002, which promotes information exchange and policy input about the legal needs of women in regional, rural and remote Australia.. Copies of the bulletin are at http://www.nwjc.org.au/avcwl/lists/public/through-our-eyes/maillist.html

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About this e-Bulletin

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THANKS
This e-Bulletin is produced with the assistance of the Regional Arts Fund, a Commonwealth Government initiative supporting the arts in regional and remote Australia.
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Regional Arts NSW

Regional Arts NSW is the peak body for the arts and community cultural development in regional and rural New South Wales.